The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 313,000 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in the United States in 2024 alone. While that number is large every case of breast cancer is personal.
When you or a loved one are facing breast cancer or another breast condition, you can find the care you need through Northeast Georgia Health System. Our team of surgeons with Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) General Surgery partners with experienced oncologists to diagnose and treat these conditions.
Who should get breast surgery?
Not all breast issues will require surgery immediately; however, people that have breast cancer or non-cancerous lumps may need surgical intervention depending on their case. If you notice a lump or abnormality on your breast; you may need to make an appointment with your primary care provider or OB/GYN for an initial diagnosis.
If you find a lump or other signs of breast cancer, you can also make an appointment today with an NGPG General Surgery provider to proceed with diagnostic testing and determine if surgery is the best treatment option.
How is breast cancer treated?
For breast cancers and conditions that require surgical treatment, NGPG General Surgery offers the following procedures:
Biopsy & surgery for male breast cancer
While breast cancer is much less common among men, nearly 3,000 men were diagnosed with the disease in 2024. NGPG surgeons have advanced training and expertise in diagnosing and treating breast cancer in men.
Breast biopsy
Abnormal tissue in the breast can be either noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). Biopsy is used to determine whether a breast abnormality is cancerous. During this procedure which is performed under local anesthesia, a surgeon uses a needle to remove a small sample of breast tissue. The tissue is then examined under a microscope by a pathologist to identify any cancerous cells.
Breast-conserving surgery
When you think about breast cancer treatment, mastectomy may come to mind, but the total removal of a breast may not always be necessary or recommended. In some cases, breast-conserving surgery (also called lumpectomy) may be used to remove cancer from the breast while leaving as much unaffected tissue as possible. Breast-conserving surgery may be used as a standalone treatment or along with chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Breast reconstruction
After breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy, patients may choose to have surgery to reconstruct the breast. Our surgeons can coordinate with a plastic surgeon to determine the best path forward for reconstruction, which may include the use of tissue from elsewhere in the body, implants or a combination of the two.
Mastectomy
There are multiple types of mastectomies:
- Total mastectomy
Removes the entire breast including breast tissue, skin, the nipple and the areola is most common. - Nipple-sparing mastectomy
Removes all breast tissue but leaves the nipple, areola and skin over the breasts intact. - Skin-sparing mastectomy
Removes the breast tissue, nipple and areola but leaves the skin over the breast intact. - Radical mastectomy
Removes the entire breast and the chest wall under the breast may be recommended for breast cancer that has invaded the chest wall.
When breast cancer is detected in both breasts or there is a high risk of recurrence, a bilateral mastectomy may be recommended to remove both breasts.
Surgeons with NGPG General Surgery can help you determine which type of mastectomy is most appropriate in your case based on your health, the stage and location of the cancer and other factors. We have significant experience in performing all types of mastectomies.
Noncancerous breast surgery
Many noncancerous conditions affect the breasts, including abscesses, cysts, benign tumors and problems with the breast ducts. Our surgeons can diagnose and treat these conditions with surgical procedures such as duct excision and breast abscess surgery.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy
If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, your surgeon and oncologist may recommend biopsying a sentinel lymph node located near the breast. Sentinel lymph nodes are lymph nodes near a primary tumor and are usually the first part of the body where cancer spreads.
During a sentinel lymph node biopsy, a surgeon removes a sentinel lymph node which is examined under a microscope to identify any cancerous cells. The results of this biopsy can help determine the best treatment plan for your needs.
Choose NGPG for breast surgery
A breast cancer diagnosis—or even the thought of having breast cancer—can be scary. You logically want a team of experts to guide your care. That’s what you’ll find through NGPG General Surgery.
Our surgeons will collaborate with other members of your care team including your OB/GYN and oncologists to help diagnose and treat breast cancer. If a noncancerous condition is causing your symptoms, we also provide surgical care for benign breast problems.
We perform breast surgery in state-of-the-art surgical suites at Northeast Georgia Health System facilities where our patients have access to technologies that improve outcomes and minimize discomfort.